Rupi Mangat

Gone to Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Published on July 20, 2019July 19, 2019 by Rupi Mangat3 Comments

Above: CBD Goma. Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: 20 July 2019

Congo’s been my dream destination even before Nyiragongo erupted in 2002 and nearly wiped out the little town of Goma in eastern DRC that’s on the shores of Lake Kivu and neighbouring Rwanda. The country is gigantic and the second largest in Africa, the Congo River sways 3,000 kilometres across its girth flowing through the mighty Congo forest which like the Amazon forest is a major lung of our planet. The river empties with such force into the Atlantic that for 200 kilometres into the ocean the water is said to be fresh.

2002 Nyiragngo lava near Goma.. Courtest Bantou Mangat (800x450) — 2002 Nyiragngo lava near Goma.. Courtest Bantou Mangat

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At Kahuzi Biega in Search of the Endemic Grauer’s Gorilla in DR Congo

Published on July 13, 2019July 10, 2019 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Above: Life-size statue of Grauer’s gorilla at Kahuzi-Biega National Park, DRC. Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: 13 July 2019

Part 2 of 2

While waiting for the great gorilla safari planned for the following day from Bukavu on the shores of Lake Kivu in the Albertine Rift, the taxi driver arrives for the chimpanzee sanctuary in Lwiro that is 50 kilometers away.

Rescued Chimpanzees at Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center. Copyright Rupi Mangat (800x600) — Rescued Chimpanzees at Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center. Copyright Rupi Mangat

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On Mtelo the sacred mountain of the Pokot

Published on July 7, 2019July 5, 2019 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Above: Mtelo Peak from Mtelo View Eco Lodge. Copyright Rupi Mangat.

Published: The East African Nation media

It’s dark and the sky is blanketed in stars. We’re following John Yaposiwa Ywalasiwa riding on his pikipiki up a road through the Sekerr mountains in the land of the Pokot in north-western Kenya. It’s an area only visited by few intrepid travellers. The road is unusual – two rail-like tracks cemented on murram leading to the booster. An hour later, we’re finally on one of the peaks facing Mt Mtelo, the sacred mountain of the Pokot.

The road up the hiill to Mt Mtelo. Copyright Rupi Mangat (800x450) — The road up the hill to Mt Mtelo. Copyright Rupi Mangat

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In Search of the Endemic Grauer’s Gorilla in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Published on July 6, 2019July 5, 2019 by Rupi Mangat4 Comments

Above: Approaching Bukavu from Lake Kivu – Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: 6 July 2019

Spending lazy days in Goma with family and discovering Congolese cuisine like the famous fish sambaza and the plaintain lintula, sipping coffee in smart restaurants like Nyumbani for eastern Congo people speak Swahili unlike Kinshasa where Lingala is the lingua franca and French spoken widely, the gorilla painted on a gate caught my attention. It was a Grauer’s gorilla and endemic to DRC.

Sambaza the favourite fish from Lake Kivu - Copyright Rupi Mangat (800x450) — Sambaza the favourite fish from Lake Kivu – Copyright Rupi Mangat

Upmarket Nyumbani restaurant in Goma - Copyright Rupi Mangat (800x450) — Upmarket Nyumbani restaurant in Goma – Copyright Rupi Mangat

I’d never heard about this sub-species of mountain gorilla unlike its more famous cousin in the Virunga mountains. A visit to the office inside revealed that Grauer’s gorilla is found only in Kahuzi-Biega National Park not far from a town called Bukavu that’s 195 kilometers on the southern end of the lake. The researcher at the office was heading that way. He was happy to take us with him. My excitement shot through the clouds. Continue reading “In Search of the Endemic Grauer’s Gorilla in the Democratic Republic of Congo” →

Scents and Sounds of South Nandi Forest

Published on June 29, 2019December 21, 2023 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Above: Sunrise at South Nandi Forest surrounded by Nyayo Tea Zone at Kobujoi. May 2019. Copyright Rupi Mangat

It’s dawn. And magical.

In the first light, the rising sun illuminates the tea and forest-clad peaks of the South Nandi Forest as a white mist lifts languidly from the valleys. It’s so beautiful an image that we have to stop to take it all in. On the other side of the road that stretches from Kapsabet to Nandi Hills Town via Serem, the ancient rock-clad hills of Maragoli lines Lake Victoria that is Africa’s largest lake.

South Nandi Forest surrounded by Nyayo Tea Zone at Kobujoi. May 2019. Copyright Rupi Mangat. (800x450) — South Nandi Forest surrounded by Nyayo Tea Zone at Kobujoi. May 2019. Copyright Rupi Mangat.

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